DEA Drug Take-Back Day: Where To Drop Off Medications In RI

PROVIDENCE, RI — On Oct. 23, cities and towns throughout Rhode Island and the country will take part in National Drug Take Back Day.

Drop-off sites will accept expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find a site near you using the Drug Enforcement Agency's collection site locator.

In April 2021, Americans turned in 420 tons (nearly 840,000 pounds) of prescription drugs at nearly 5,060 sites operated by the DEA, and more than 4,400 of its state and local law enforcement partners.

Unused medicines in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse, abuse or falling into the hands of children. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the country are alarmingly high, as are the rates of accidental poisonings and overdoses. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else's medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines — flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash — both pose potential safety and health hazards.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the Oct. 24 Take Back Day event, go to www.DEATakeBack.com.

Patch editor Jimmy Bentley contributed to this report.